Netflix users have been left in shock after a new trailer for an upcoming documentary series exposing kidfluencing claims a mom appeared to try and send her child’s used underwear online.
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing premieres on the streamer on Wednesday, April 9, and is set to lay bare disturbing stories of alleged exploitation, cult-like manipulation, and abuse at the hands of disgraced momager Tiffany Smith, who described herself as ‘Madame of YouTube.’
The three-part investigative docuseries peels back the curtain on the former child influencer and YouTuber Piper Rockelle and her friends, known collectively as The Squad.
Together, The Squad made millions of dollars by making video content of their elaborate staged pranks and general merriment around Los Angeles.
Piper’s success on YouTube was engineered by her mother, Tiffany, who invited several aspiring child stars to join her daughter in front of the camera.
But as time went on, several members of The Squad – and their parents – began to feel that something was seriously wrong.
In a chilling new teaser for the series, influencer Corinne Areeco, now 17, revealed how she was once with Tiffany when she went to mail out Piper’s used underwear. Tiffany has publicly denied the allegations.
A new Netflix docuseries is set to lay bare disturbing stories of alleged exploitation, cult-like manipulation, and abuse at the hands of disgraced momager Tiffany Smith (pictured)
Tiffany is the mother of YouTuber and influencer Piper Rockeller (pictured)
Recalling the incident, Corinne said: ‘Piper had an acting lesson, or voice lesson, and after we dropped Piper off, Tiffany was like “I have to go to the post office and drop off some things.”
‘She had a bag, and she pulled out what looked like Piper’s underwear, and I asked her, “Why are you shipping those out?”
‘And she told me that old men like to sniff them. I was confused. I was like, what is she talking about?’
Corinne’s mom Steevy Areeco also recounted the chilling situation.
She recalled: ‘Corinne came home and asked me why old men liked to smell underwear.’
Steevy went on to claim that she confronted Tiffany, but she was immediately shut down and told ‘stop being so dramatic.’
Social media users have been left feeling unease following the clip’s release.
Taking to social media, one wrote: ‘This is why you don’t put kids on camera for exploitation. It’s no one’s fault but the parents/guardians. Be better parents.’
Influencer Corinne Areeco claimed how she was once with Tiffany when she went to mail out Piper’s used underwear
Recalling the incident in Netflix’s upcoming documentary, Corinne said: ‘She had a bag, and she pulled out what looked like Piper’s underwear, and I asked her, “Why are you shipping those out?”‘
Corinne’s mom Steevy Areeco also recounted the chilling situation, claiming that she confronted Tiffany afterwards
‘Definitely tuning in, exposing the ugly side of fame,’ said another.
A third posted: ‘Solely based on the subject, this should be mandatory viewing.’
‘I knew it,’ declared a fourth. ‘More will come out of this. That’s why I banned my kids from watching YouTube.’
In October 2024, Tiffany settled a lawsuit filed by 11 teenagers who accused her of sexually abusing them, agreeing to a confidential settlement with the children.
Tiffany publicly denied the allegations.
In the lawsuit, Tiffany was accused of rubbing one of the girls’ exposed thighs and ‘moving her hand toward her vagina, constantly spanking her buttocks and sticking her finger/poking her anus over clothing.’
That same alleged victim, identified as Claire Rocksmith, claimed in the lawsuit that Tiffany would comment on how ‘big’ her breasts looked and attempt to squeeze them, and that on one occasion she tried to spit in the girl’s mouth.
Eleven teens from the ‘Piper Squad’ sued Tiffany in January 2022
A separate complainant alleged that she joined Tiffany at the post office on one occasion when she was shipping Piper’s ‘soiled training bras and panties to an unknown individual.’
Tiffany reportedly told the child ‘old men like to sniff this stuff,’ according to the lawsuit.
Sawyer Sharbino, Donlad Dougher, Corrine Joy, Connor Cain, Symonne Harrison, Ayden Mekus, Hayden Haas, Walker Bryant, Sophia Fergi, Claire Rocksmith, and Reese Rocksmith were all listed on the initial complaint.
According to the complaint, Tiffany would also assume an alter-ego as ‘Frank the Pug’ or ‘Lenny the Dead Cat’ and shout out explicit phrases to the children.
‘I’m going to f**k you up the a**,’ and ‘I’m going to touch you in your sleep’ were both listed in the complaint as phrases used by Tiffany’s ‘alter-ego.’
Dhillon Law Group partner and lead attorney Matt Sarelson said he wanted to ‘publicly commend these 11 kids’ in a statement announcing Tiffany had settled.
‘They’re smart and brave. What they went through was grotesque. I look forward to watching them thrive as young adults.’
The children were initially each seeking $2million in compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages.
It is not yet clear what the final agreed figure was.
